Good mixtapes are essential - so why do so many DJs struggle with them? Discover how to make perfect mixtapes every time, with this fast and easy method.

Course introduction

No idea how to manage your recording levels? Scared to start a mixtape in case you make a mistake? Have you spent weeks, months or even longer struggling to record a decent mixtape? If you’re smart, you’ll know that a mixtape for a DJ is utterly essential, like a business card is for a businessman – but be honest, do you think yours actually sounds like those of the pros? Do you enjoy making mixes? Do they come as easy as you’d like? Pro Mixtape Formula, taught by Steve Canueto, a senior tutor at Digital DJ Tips who edited and mastered DJ mixes for big name DJs for Ministry of Sound for over a decade, is all you need to turn your raw mixes into the finished product – recording, editing and mastering.

Pro Mixtape Formula is delivered online in full HD video, viewable on your computer, tablet or smartphone, so you can learn anywhere. With over five hours of expert training across 30 videos taking you step-by-step through the process of creating a real pro DJ mix, it’s everything you need in one place. What’s more, pay once and it’s yours for life, so you can take it at your own speed and refer back to it whenever you want.

What you'll learn

How to plan your mix so nothing is left to chance when it comes to hitting “record”

How to edit, level and master yourDJ mix, for results indistinguishable from the pros

How to process your mix professionally using freely available software – no expensive extra purchases

How to fix bad mistakes “after the event”, so you’ll never have to re-do your mixtapes due to errors

How to master your mix to make it pumping, loud and clear, just like the very best mixes by pro DJs

How to professionally edit your finished mix, to make it flow perfectly

How to trim the length of your mix to make it fit any desired format (web, CD and so on)

How to add personalised drops, idents and samples after the event, so you can turn your mix into an instant radio show or podcast

How to present your mix online to give it the best chance of becoming truly popular

Full Course Details

Introduction

Here you’ll get you an overview of what’s in store, meet Steve who will tutor you through the course, plus learn how to get the best from this training.

What’s covered:

You’ll learn about music selection, quality of audio, and how to correctly plan a mix, using a proven mix framework

You’ll get a printable Quickstart Guide and Extra Resources PDF, plus a host of templates to help complete the course

You’ll be given a toolkit for beating procrastination, which is one of the biggest reasons mixes get left.. and left and left!

You’ll learn about the classic mixtape mistakes that DJs make again and again, and we’ll reveal how to overcome them

Recording

The recording section shows you how to get this stage of the process right every single time, so you’re never leaving anything to chance.

What’s covered:

You’ll learn the various methods available to record your DJ set, and how to set up recording in the main software packages

You’ll discover how to optimise your hardware, covering disk space, RAM, latency and all the other settings you’ll need

We’ll brief you on setting up the optimal environment for recording your mix, including how to have your DJ gear laid out

You’ll be shown in depth how to avoid ruining your mix by overdriving your levels – the only mistake that is truly fatal

You’ll learn how to handle other mistakes when recording, and how to deal with each type without ruining the mix

You’ll find out how to record your mix properly, and learn a great time-saving tip to preserve your tracklist for later use

Editing

This covers the core principles of editing and levelling. We also explain the software we use for editing in this course, and outline your alternatives.

What’s covered:

You’ll download the free editing software, optimise it for DJ mixes, and learn the controls, shortcuts and commands

You’ll learn how to use the detailed notes we taught you to take during your mix to save save time in the editing and mastering stage

You’ll discover how to import your “raw” mix and get started on your structural edit, by creating track and edit markers

You’ll go step by step through the editing process, learning how to top & tail and snip together your mix, removing any mistakes

We’ll reveal how to shorten tracks in your mix to pick up the pace and keep the listener’s attention, or to fit onto a 74-minute CD

You’ll learn two methods of getting a nice consistent level across your whole mix, plus how to fix EQ issues

Advanced Editing

Re-recording whole sections, adding jingles, drops and idents, making a “minimix” or “sampler” of your mix… we open all these advanced techniques up for you.

What’s covered:

You’ll find out how to combine advanced recording and editing techniques to alter the running order, or insert a new track

To add a personal touch, or create a version for radio or podcast, we’ll show you how to include jingles, drops and idents

You’ll learn how to highlight your mixing skills and tune selection by producing a “minimix”, a technique that’s well appreciated by busy promoters and club managers

Mastering

From initial mastering of a finished mix, to exporting and burning it, to your final checklist before releasing it to the world, you’ll learn how to get from nearly finished to really finished!

What’s covered:

We demystify the often baffling world of mastering for you, showing you a couple of “how not to do its”

You’ll learn our simple method for getting a pumping, loud, level mix with no distortion just like a pro mastered mix

You’ll learn the formats to output your mix and the file types that are most commonly used by online music sites

We talk you through how to export and save your mastered mix from the software including the relevant metadata

You’ll learn how to get “track markers” on CDs you burn, so that people can skip to tracks they want, like commercial CDs

You’ll discover how to make sure your mix sounds good to different cross-sections of people across different audio devices

Sharing

From choosing where to share, to creating artwork, tips for uploading to tips for promoting your mix, even going “old school” and getting bulk runs of CDs, you’ll get the lowdown on the best ways to promote and share your work.

What’s covered:

You’ll learn how to create concepts, brands and logos for very little money to make you look slick and professional

We’ll talk you step by step through how to upload your sets, import your track list, and share your mix on social networks

You’ll learn how to bring listeners to your mix, raise your profile and get more gigs by promoting yourself as a brand

Making multiple copies of professional quality CDs is now an affordable option for you to do yourself, so we show you how

Meet your tutor

Steve Canueto DDJT Team

Steve Canueto

DDJT Team

Steve Canueto is a DJing and music industry veteran including 10 years heading up Ministry of Sound's compilations division. He's been a senior tutor at Digital DJ Tips since 2013 and created our hugely popular Scratching For Controller DJs course.

Every course includes a live “remote classroom” element - spend a minimum of an hour each month with your tutors, where you can ask any questions.

We offer 12 month money-back guarantee on all of our courses ​-​​ All our training comes with our cast-iron, no questions, 12 month money-back guarantee - the risk is all ours.

Our courses are delivered in full HD on-demand videos, yours for life and are viewable on any device, so you can learn from anywhere.

Multiple camera angles, on-screen annotations, step-by-step explanations, make the training easy to follow and fun! Plus resources to further lock in your learning.

“After taking this course I can now produce a mixtape with minimal time and effort and achieve excellent results that I can use for promotional purposes on CD/stick or online. It feels really good to have material out to show any promoter, club owner or bar manager what I am capable of. There was not one second of superfluous or redundant information. It was excellent content and very inspirational. I’ve never seen any book or other course that comes close. It’s worth every cent you spend and every second you watch.”

Paul Von Groove, Bonn, Germany

“I’d always thought I was pretty good at mixing, which is precisely why I could never understand why my mixes never, ever sounded as good as those of ‘the professionals’. Since finishing this course, now I know why, and now they are! I just love putting my mixes online over on my Mixcloud account now, knowing 100% that they are without doubt every bit as tight and loud as the big name jocks, and that they don’t let me down. The course was simple to follow, and the videos are always there to refer back to for a refresher. Get it – you won’t regret it!”

Mark Webster, Wigan, UK

“Excellent course – it has completely revolutionised the way I approached doing a mixtape, and saved me so much time in correcting mistakes. Knowing you have a perfect mixtape gives you that extra confidence, that when you hand it out, it will never be dismissed for a technical mistake, or for being poor quality. It was awesome learning how to correct mistakes and cut and paste in new tracks/edits with Steve’s engaging style and easy to follow explanations. You have to know these principles – it will save you time and money.”